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We will collect dead animals (for example, foxes, badgers, deer, dogs and cats) found on public highways, verges or other public land.  We don't collect from private land.

We will also collect dead, large marine animals (for example, dolphins) and large collections of other marine animals (but not single birds or fish) from the following beaches only:

  • Exmouth (not Sandy Bay)
  • Budleigh Salterton
  • Sidmouth
  • Beer
  • Seaton

This service is offered free-of-charge and animals are usually picked up within 24 hours. The animals are kept for a period of 14 days to allow them to be claimed by owners, if required.

If you notice a dead animal which is causing a hazard or distress on the public land, please let us know. Please note EDDC can only collect animals up to the size of a small deer. If there is a larger animal, EDDC would need to contact a third-party contractor to collect it which can take longer.

Please note EDDC are unable to collect dead animals on roads over 30mph. If the dead animal is on a road over 30mph, please report this to Devon County Council, Devon Highways: Report debris or an obstruction - Roads and transport or call 03451551004

To report a car accident with a large animal such as a dog, horse, cattle, pig, goat, sheep, donkey and large deer, please report it to the police. Please see more information on the gov website Report a dead or injured animal - GOV.UK.

When reporting dead animals, please provide as much information as possible such as landmarks etc. We suggest you download the What3Words app; this means we can now respond to exact locations in very rural areas or in a town environment to find the issue to be dealt with.

The app helps us to find the exact location of the dead animal by giving small areas 3 unique words. When giving details of the location in our online form, please use the 3 words generated by the app in the location details box.

Our teams have been trialling What3Words and have found it very successful so far, they have found it saves time and enables them to find the dead animal more accurately, the first time. 

All the emergency services in Devon and Cornwall are now also using the app as a back up to their other location finding systems, so you may find the app useful in future too.

For further information about disposal of dead birds please see our guidance.

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